1Includes District of Columbia. Though they do not perform same-sex marriages themselves, Maryland (since 2010), New Mexico (since 2011), New York (since 2008), and Rhode Island (since 2007) recognize those legally performed elsewhere. California recognizes same-sex marriages legally performed in-state between June 16, 2008, and Nov. 4, 2008, and since 2009 has recognized those legally performed elsewhere within that same time span.2The law that legalizes same-sex marriage in New York takes effect on July 24, 2011.3Maryland and Rhode Island do not have registries but provide certain benefits to statutorily defined domestic partners.34The laws that legalize civil unions for same-sex couples in Delaware and Hawaii take effect on Jan. 1, 2012. Sources: Human Rights Campaign, www.hrc.org/state_laws; National Conference of State Legislatures, www.ncsl.org.